The big problem with the Craftsman 101 and Atlas 618 lathes is how much they sell for now. They are nice machines, but around here you can spend $1000 and up for one. Plus, they are not as rigid as the Asian 7" lathes in my opinion. Plus, accessories and spare parts are hard to find and expensive.
My shop has 4 Atlas/Craftsman metal lathes and I use them frequently.One is an Atlas
618 that I modified for making screws and machining the back side of a tumbler blank
and it works fine and has for 55 years. I bought it new from Industrial Machinery in Columbus,Ohio
in 1964.The other is an identical lathe marked Craftsman and is still as new.The last person
to tighten s screw on it worked at the factory in Kalamazoo,Mich. It was new in 1965 and was
a gift from the son of the friend that bought it new at Sears.Also a 12"x36" Craftsman and a 10x36
Atlas,a real relic that still works and has babbit spindle bearings that have given no problems
in the time I have owned it.I gave $50 for it in 1974.NONE of these are the best of lathes but
for the light use I give them,they do the job.I have been thinking of a better one with at least
a 1 and 1/2" spindle bore and have the money to get it but at 83 years of age I can't quite
justify it.The old 10F atlas and the 12" Craftsman both did real service in the 1970'and 80's
when I was making bronze transmission bearings and resurfacing GM350 transmission stator
supports that were the back side of the transmission's oil pump.It was a good run and kept us
out of debt for years but now I have no real desire or interest in reviving the past.
By the way,Atlas/Clausing Corp. in Kalamazzo has all kinds of Atlas Craftsman lathe parts
and are the parent company of this line of lathes,mills and other things.
Bob Roller